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Tuesday - October 2, 2001

Catch an all new episode of Full Contact Fighter tonight on MSG (Madison Square Garden) Network at 11:30PM (Eastern time).

Check with your local cable or satellite provider and your local listings.

From SuperBrawl promoter T. Jay Thompson:

Super Brawl to Adopt Nevada State Weight Classes

Extreme Sports Productions, producers of the Super Brawl series of events, have been pioneers in the sport of Mixed Martial Arts. Super Brawl began in 1996 with three weight classes (under 165lbs, 165-200lbs and over 200lbs) and limited rules. Since then they have continually adapted to their surrounding environment. The event, which gave NHB debuts to names such as Vitor Belfort, Frank Shamrock, Ray Cooper, Ronald Jhun and many others, is making some changes once again. Super Brawl will now have 5 separate weight classes with new champions crowned in each division. Weight classes will be 155lbs and under, 155.1-170lbs, 170.1-185lbs, 185.1-205lbs and over 205lbs. T.Jay Thompson said "We are excited about the new weight classes. We think this is another small step in developing unified standards for all MMA events world-wide and we are happy to do our part."

The Danger Zone is going to be putting on THE MOST ACTION PACKED fighting event of the year in Ft. Wayne, IN. This is an all amateur card with the areas finest up and coming fighters. The amateurs are the future of the sport and where else can they fight like the pros and display their skills than in the Danger Zone!
None of that open palm on the ground garbage! This is full contact mixed martial arts at its finest!
All applicants go to http://www.the-dangerzone/ and fill out an application.
A single amateur fight - Team Roc fighter Seth Horn out of NC. vs. Brian Densberger PA. Along with 7 amateur tournaements.
The Danger zone is looking at putting on their first female match ups on the card as well. Andrea Grishman vs. Tara Larosa will take place. Don't miss this night of action!
Tickets are available through the Danger Zone. $12 and $15 at the door.
All amateur fighters that would like to fight on this card go to http://www.the-dangerzone.com/ and fill out an application. Be sure to take a look at the information on the site.

James "The Crippler" Upshur, representing Brausa Academy, submitted Shannon "The Cannon" Ritch in the Main Event. This impressive victory earned Fighter of the Night honors for James. Other candidates for Fighter of the Night were Edwin Dewees, Joseph Riggs, Nathan Bulitta and Juan Ayala.

T.Jay Thompson said "We are excited about the new weight classes and even more excited about this match-up! These are truly two of the elite fighters in the world at this weight."

Inoue will be testing the waters at a lighter weight. He has retained the Super Brawl title at the old heavyweight class (over 200lbs) since beating Marcelo Tiger in a controversial match in 1999. "I look forward to fighting closer to my natural weight. I donít think there are many people who can compete with me at 185lbs." Said Egan. When asked about how he thought the fight would go, Inoue responded, "I have been working hard on all aspects of my game. If he wants to stand up I will try to knock him out. If the fight goes to the ground I am confident I can submit him there."

Doerksen, a Winnipeg, Canada native, with a 19-2 professional record and 12 straight wins guarantees an exciting fight. He has never seen a decision. All 19 wins have come by way of submission. His only losses were to Matt Hughes and Eugene Jackson, both international stars. Joe is looking for a spot in one of the "big shows" (UFC, PRIDE, etc.) and sees Inoue as his meal ticket. "This will be a tough fight, but I know a lot of people will be paying attention to the outcome. I plan on leaving the islands with a new piece of hardware around my waist and respect from promoters world-wide." Joe Doerksen

Tickets will go on sale Monday morning at the Blaisdell Center box office. More match-ups to be announced in the coming weeks.

Mixed martial arts and kickboxing return to Memphis, TN this Saturday, October 6, 2001. Mid South Kickboxing presents Kickshoot 2001 at Southwest TN Community College (formerly State Tech) Nabors Auditorium, Macon RD Campus.
Fights will start at 8:00 doors will open at 7:00.(Fighters please be there at 6:30 for the weigh in and physical.)
Earlier that day Mid South Karate will host a Karate & Grappling tournament, open to all schools and styles at the same location. (gi's are optional for grapplers)The tournament will start at 11:00 am. For info on the fights or tournament contact Jeff Mullen at (901)757-0985 or jmullen@memphis.edu

From the event's promoter:

KING OF THE CAGE 11OFFICIAL RESULTS
SOBOBA CASINO
September 29, 2001

MMA aficionados came to King of the Cage 11 starving for action, knockouts, submissions, and beautiful ring girls and that's exactly what King of the Cage served up to over 5,000 devoted fans.

Chris Brennan now holds the Middle Weight Belt for the second time after defeating stud fighter Steve Berger In an all out Brazilian Jiu Jitsu war.

Tim Catalfo came ready, but Bobby "The Bad Seed" Hoffman proved to be too much for the "Obake," as Hoffman grounded and pounded "Obake" into submission, remaining King of the Cage's Heavyweight Champion.

Fight fans, we know you want more KING OF THE CAGE action, and we ALWAYS deliver!

KING OF THE CAGE 12 will occur on Saturday December 8, 2001 from the Silver Legacy Resort and Casino in Reno, Nevada. Grappling phenom Javier "Mr. Showtime" Vazquez will put his Bantam Weight title on the line against Josh Thompson, Brian Sleeman will face off against Roman Roythberg, Shannon "The Cannon" Ritch versus former KOTC Middle Weight Champion Joe Hurley, kickboxing specialist Duane "Bang" Ludwig versus Joey Villasenor, Phillip Miller versus Bobby Southworth, and much more! Also included on the card, Jerry Bohlander, Sakada, Jeremy Edwards, Shungo Oyama, and many more fighters to come! BE THERE FOR KING OF THE CAGE 12, the fight card that will end the year with a bang!

The Ironheart Crown Returns! Unhindered by the Boxing Commission's decision to crack down on Mixed Martial Arts events in the state of Illinois, Chicago's premiere Full-Contact Submission fighting event packs its bags and moves 30 minutes across the border to friendlier soil in Hammond, Indiana! This is exciting news for fight fans in Northwest Indiana, which has never before hosted an event of this calibre!

This year's fight card features fifteen exciting fights which will include no less than four title bouts.

In the main event, returning IHC openweight champion, Vaughan "the Man, the Myth, the Legend" Palelei from Caique Jiu-Jitsu defends his title against the Ukranian Powerhouse, "Mighty" Milan Dimkovic, training under Shonie Carter!

Heavyweight Champion, Jim Theobald, training out of Champion Jiu-Jitsu and the All-American Academy faces a hungry new challenger in Steve Lauretto, from Keith Hackney's Reality Combat!

With Adrian Serrano unable to make the weight in defense of his title, two powerful headhunters step up to fill the void in a Middleweight title bout! Jay Buck of Hackney's Hellhouse Team, who recently fought in Japan against the #10 Shooto contender, faces Dan Severn's protege, Brett Al-Azzawi, of the Dark Alley Fight Team in an exciting match which promises to feature more bombs than the Gulf War!

And in the Lightweight division, perhaps the most anticipated fight of the night, Lightweight Champion Henry Matamoros of the Pedro Sauer Team and the Duke Roufus Gym takes on last year's "Master of Submission," Rolando Higuerros, training out of the Chicago Fitness Center and the All-American Academy. This is a match you DON'T want to miss!

In the heavily stacked Middleweight Division (161 - 180 lbs), Joe Paun and James O'Connor face off in a heated rematch on one side of the bracket, while Herman Reyes and Jake Ambrose fight to determine who will take on the winner!

And in the Heavyweight division (181 - 205 lbs) Stephan Bonna, Jay Massey, Chris Albandia, and Ivan Bambic mix it up to determine who's the best man!

Several non-title exhibition bouts are also scheduled. In addition this, Blind Man's Bluff performs a chilling A Capella rendition of the U.S. National Anthem in honor of the victims of the World Trade Center attack, and MuscleMag International fitness model, Julie Ann graces the ring, along with our other beautiful Iron Maidens, as our newest Card-Girl!

Tickets are on sale now! A limited number of ringside seats are available. For more information, visit the event website at www.ironheartcrown.com, or call 219-844-8504 in NW Indiana or 773-793-6555 in the Chicago area.

From the event's promoter:

Doerksen, Jones Win Elimination Bouts in Extreme 44

LAKE CHARLES, La. -- Joe Doerksen won his 12th straight bout, and Jesse Jones made an impressive return to the cage as the Extreme Challenge made its first visit to the bayou.
Doerksen (19-2-1) of Winnipeg, Manitoba, tapped out Robbie Newman of Biloxi, Miss., at 1:45 of round 1 with a key lock. Meanwhile, Jones (22-3) of Omaha, Neb., submitted Anthony Macias of Arlington, Texas, with a rear choke at 2:23 of round 1.
The two middleweights will face each other for the Extreme Challenge middleweight title in a future event.
Extreme Challenge 44 was held at the Lake Charles Civic Center only days after the attack on the U.S. With no flights available, many of the fighters, including Doerksen and Jones, opted to drive up to 26 hours (1 way) to get there.

PRIDE FIGHTING CHAMPIONSHIPS, and parent company DREAM STAGE ENTERTAINMENT are pleased to announce the addition of Jackie Kallen to the company.

Job # 1 for Kallen will be to spread the word in the United States about PRIDE, which is the pre-emiment producer of Mixed Martial Arts events in Japan. Known as "The First Lady of Boxing", Kallen has been a fixture on the fight scene for over two decades. As a sports writer, fight publicist and boxing manager, she distinguished herself as a pioneer. She was twice nominated for "Boxing manager of the Year", is the former Commissioner of the International Female Boxers Association, wrote a book called "Hit Me With Your Best Shot" and is the subject of an upcoming Paramount film called "Against the Ropes" starring Meg Ryan.

Kallen will join the company as Director of Publicity/Public Relations. She will be working to increase the American fan base for PRIDE and will help coordinate future PRIDE shows that will originate from the United States.

From the event's promoter:

Second Annual Arizona Jiu-Jitsu and Submission Grappling Tournament

Saturday December 1, 2001

Location:
Leininger Dojo
500 E Dunlap
Phoenix, Arizona 85020

Weigh-Ins: 10:00 AM

For more information, please call Roland Sarria at 480-446-8127

Thursday - October 4, 2001

FCF Survey

Give Us Your Thoughts...

This month we want to hear your thoughts on the history making UFC 33 event held in Las Vegas Nevada on September 28. Your input is meaningful to the sport and helps in understanding what the fan looks for in an event.

Though it looked like the man who just beat Hayato Sakurai in Shooto, Chute Boxe sensation Anderson Silva, would be facing Carlos Newton in UFC 34 for the welterweight title, negotiations have fallen through according to the Chute Boxe team. Silva decided against the proposed fight with current UFC Welterweight champion Carlos Newton at the next UFC on November 2nd. FCF was told today by the Chute Boxe camp that the UFC wanted Anderson to sign an exclusive deal with them, but the Chute Boxe star wants to have the opportunity to fight in other events as well, such as MECA and Pride. In the end both parties couldn't reach an agreement, and Anderson himself decided not to take the match.
" It was the fighter's decision, this fight isn't going to happen anymore. Anderson will fight for MECA again in the future, and will continue
with his career," said Chute Boxe coach Rudimar Fedrigo.

It's No Holds Barred in the FCF Caption Contest, show off that sharp wit and come up with the best caption for the picture featured above and you will win the new hot never forgotten T-shirt like the fighters wore in UFC 33.

It don't get no better! You get a chance to be famous and also win a piece of the fabulous Full Contact Fighter Collection.

Entries must be in by 11:00 pm (Eastern Time) Sunday October 7, 2000. The winner will be announced here.

Yesterday we posted the Chute Boxe camp's explanation as to why Anderson Silva will not be fighting Carlos Newton on the upcoming UFC 34 card at The MGM Grand in Las Vegas on November 2. Now we bring you what the UFC had to say on the matter: "His team signed a contract and decided not to honor it -- even Pride realized he would not be able fight on their card and pulled him," stated UFC VP of Talent Relations Joe Silva. When asked if they would pursue any legal action if Silva would attempt to fight elsewhere, the answer was swift, "We will pursue legal action."

Catch the new episode of Full Contact Fighter tonight at 11:30PM (Eastern time) as FCF TV moves to a new time slot on the Sunshine Network. This better time slot will be the regular schedule for FCF TV going forward.

Check with your local cable or satellite provider and your local listings.

Saturday - October 6, 2001

MECA World Vale Tudo About to Take Off!
By Eduardo Alonso

The biggest NHB event in Brazil nowadays, MECA World Vale Tudo, is going to take a major step next year, and hold events every single month, showcasing the best of the young fighting talent, not only from Brazil, but from around the world!
In a conversation with FCF, event promoter and Chute Boxe coach Rudimar Fedrigo explained the big plans for the event next year. According to Rudimar, Sportv (The cable channel that carries MECA and most Vale Tudo events in Brazil, and MECA's biggest sponsor) made a change in direction, and decided to support NHB even further, and invest more money in it. With that decision, it was established that MECA will now have one event per month during the course of next year! That means 12 events in the year, and an even bigger production. And that's not all... MECA will now have shows all over Brazil, not only in the city of Curitiba like in the previous editions of the event. Cities like Sao Paulo and Rio are scheduled to have MECA events, and Curitiba, of course, will host the first MECA of next year, tentatively scheduled for early January.
As if all this news wasn't enough, MECA will now take another major step and add more international flavor to the event, featuring fighters from several countries during the course of the year, like the USA, Japan and Russia, facing the top young fighting talent from Brazil! The event will also look to have some big names in there, and Chute Boxe stars like Anderson Silva and Pele Landi are eager to fight at the event. This is great news not only for MECA but for the sport as a whole, especially in Brazil! This will certainly help the sport to reach mainstream in Brazil, and will provide a bigger number of young fighters, from all over the world, a chance to showcase their skills and give their careers a start! FCF wishes MECA the best of luck in its new phase, and we will be there for sure to cover the action from MECA all year long!

On Saturday, November 10, at the Hammond Civic Center Arena, returning IHC lightweight champion, Henry Matamoros will take on last year's Master of Submission award winner, Rolando Higuerros, in what promises to be the most intense fight of the evening!Everybody knows who Henry Matamoros is. He's been fighting for years, first making his name as a Champion in the Hook-n-Shoot. He has a wealth of experience, fighting in events such as the WEF, the IVC, the Extreme Challenge, and many others. He has faced formidable opponents, including big names such as Karl Shmidt, Rafiel Cordeiro, Mario Roberto, Jeff Curran, Nick Starks, and John Renken. He is a 3-time Costa Rican freestyle wrestling champion and a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Champion. In addition to all of this, he has great striking skills and a jaw of steel. These are the things that have made him the current lightweight champion. His opponent, Rolando Higuerros isn't as well-known outside of the immediate Chicago area, but Matamoros had better not take him lightly! His father, a former national boxing champion from Ecuador, began training Rolando as a boxer while he was still in diapers, and he's been growing as a fighter ever since! He has great hands, crafty footwork, and slick head movement that is not often seen in the MMA world. He was also a very successful wrestler in high school, and to top off his resume, Higuerros has nearly fifteen years of training in the martial arts. He has done kickboxing and submission at the All-American Academy for a number of years, and two years ago he won his division at the U.S. Olympic Pankration trials with a victory over Jeff Curran, a renowned Midwestern fighter who also happens to be a good friend and now teammate of Henry Matamoros! Matamoros and Higuerros are both equally skilled on their feet and on the ground, but their fighting styles are very different. Matamoros may have a slight advantage with his ring experience, but this is definitely the fight to watch. Chicago fight fans will make the drive for this fight alone! The Ironheart Crown will be held on November 10 in Hammond, Indiana. Doors open at 6:00 PM; Fights start at 7:00. The card will also feature fourteen other exciting matches. Tickets are on sale now, and a limited number of ringside seats are available. For more information, visit the event website at http://www.ironheartcrown.com, or call 773-793-6555 in the Chicago area or 219-844-8504 in Northwest Indiana.

Lopez fought to a draw with Gary "Boy" Freitas earlier this year. He displayed tremendous striking skills against the much larger Freitas. Tyler is known for his submissions from the bottom, but claims he has been working on his take-down and top game as of late. If he cannot take down Lopez, he may find himself staring at the ceiling, although if he gets it to the ground it will be a short night for Lopez. Lopez 3-2 favorite.

These big boys will bang! "Cabbage", fresh of his win over Marcelo Tiger is looking to further his career with another "W". Pynanis is known around town as a "heavy hitter". He will have to hit very heavy to take out "Cabbage". Look for Pynanis throwing. "Cabbage" will weather the storm and start throwing bombs of his own. "Cabbage" 2-1 Favorite.

Doerksen is ranked #10 in the world by the MMA Writers Association and has finished all 19 of his victims by submission. Inoue has dispatched all fighters he has faced in this weight class, but none with the talents of Doerksen. Both fighters have voiced interest in fighting in the UFC middleweight class. The winner likely will get the call... the loser will have to watch on Pay-Per-View. Doerksen 3-2 Favorite.

Rage in the Cage XXX on September 26 was the first RITC event sanctioned by the Arizona State Boxing Commission. This show turned out to be the best night of fights in Rage in the Cage history. The fan approval rating for the last event is running at an all-time high of 98%!!!

We're busy putting together an exciting card for RITC XXXI on November 7. The first details of this show will be released approximately 2 weeks prior to the event.

Tickets for RITC available at the Celebrity Theatre Box Office (602-267-1600) or at Ticketmaster (480-784-4444). For additional information, please call 480-446-8127 or visit www.rageinthecage.com

From the event's promoter:

FIGHT NIGHT 15October 13, 2001 at South Plainfield Middle School
In South Plainfield, New Jersey

Reality Super Fighting announces its next mixed martial arts event, NEW BLOOD CONFLICT II which promises great fights and much more. These no-holds-barred cage fights will be held at the Bell Auditorium in Augusta, GA on October 27, 2001. The main event features the legendary Dan THE BEAST Severn against Georgia's own Forrest Griffin.

Along with world-class fights, this event will also be the subject of media excitement as Johnny Knoxville, of MTV's hit show "Jackass" steps into the cage in a special match against the Reality Super Fighting Light Weight Champion Din Thomas. (Bad idea for Johnny, but consider the name of the show.)

Also, independent film producer, Bobby Razak will document the event for the sequel to "Rites of Passage". "Rites" gained international recognition by being selected as part of the prestigious Sundance Film Festival.

Fans can look forward to professional bouts including a fight featuring Din THE DOMINATOR Thomas, RSF Light Weight Champion against Ohio's Jason Bender. Thomas is ready to go, having just come off of a big win against Fabiano Iha in the "Ultimate Fighting Championships" in Las Vegas. Thomas was originally slated to fight Rich Clementi. Clementi's camp failed to adhere to contract stipulations, forcing the loss of the opportunity for Clementi.

Georgia will be well represented in this event with local heroes including Forrest Griffin, Mike THE RHINO Farrow, Jack THE RIPPER Nilsson, George Allen and Cam McHargue entering the octagon.

Fifty-seven-year-old Skip Hall from Alabama will take on Florida's Charlie Anderson in a featured heavyweight bout.

In a just-signed bout, John Dixson will go up against Wade Rome in a super heavyweight bout. Dixson is the WEF Super Heavy Weight Champion and has been since 1999 with a win over Tom Sauer. His title carried over to the RSF. Wade Rome also fought Sauer in '99, but was defeated. Since that loss, Rome has been making a name for himself in the grappling world and the BJJ tournaments.

Reality Super Fighting is also proud to announce the debut of Christina Jarrell, spokes-model for Reality Super Fighting.

Tickets can be ordered now at ticketmaster locations or online at ticketmaster.com. General admission seats start at just $15.

This event is sanctioned by the International Sport Combat Federation (ISCF). Visit the ISCF on the Web at www.theiscf.com

I don't know about you, but I love to hear what matches promoters are planning, even if a lot of them do not pan out by fight night. Brennan Kamaka just released this tentative card and it already has some interesting matches. Eugene Jackson will come off of his recent loss to Ricardo "Cacharrao" Almeida in UFC 33 to face Hawaii's own Niko Vitale. Don't count Vitale out, remember Vitale came in as an underdog and handily dispatched Todd Medina. Tim Lajcik, Jackson's training partner, will accompany him to fight an, as of yet, unnamed opponent. You can bet Lajcik will have something to prove after getting KO'd by Marcelo Tigre recently in a Pancrase tournament. Another great match pits Pete Spratt, who fought a war with Ron Jhun at the last Warriors Quest, against the new and improved Thomas "Wild Man" Denny. Sparks should fly as both guys like to bang and both are well versed at getting off the mat and back up to their feet. And of course the Warriors Quest champions, Cooper and Jhun will be back to defend their titles along with some great local talent on the under card. I will let you know as more news on this event becomes available.

After his Pride debut at Pride 16 against Guy Mezger, Rings and Abu Dhabi champion Ricardo Arona was scheduled to face another experienced fighter on November 3 in Dan Henderson! However Arona suffered an injury while training yesterday and won't be able to fight the wrestler at the event.
Ricardo Arona damaged his ribs a bit in his fight against Mezger, and yesterday he aggravated the injury during his training sessions. Results from x-rays today it was determined that he will need time to recover from the injury, and therefore will have to step out of the November 3rd Pride event at the Tokyo Dome. However, it's likely that Arona will be ready for action for the December Pride show.

Brazilian Top Team coming strong at Pride 17!
By Eduardo Alonso

The Brazilian Top Team, one of the most important fighting teams in Brazil despite all that has happened lately with the team, will weigh in with a heavy presence at Pride 17 on November 3rd in Tokyo in great style! Despite the recent injury problem with Ricardo Arona, the team will feature at least two fighters on the card.
Current Heavyweight sensation and submission wizard Rodrigo "Minotauro"
Nogueira will face none other than Heath Herring for the new Pride Heavyweight belt at the upcoming show! FCF was told today that Minotauro vs. Herring is a sure deal, and that both men will be fighting for the title in what will assuredly be an amazing fight.
Herring is no pushover for any fighter, beating names like Enson Inoue, Tom Erikson and Mark Kerr, so this has the potential to be one of the most exciting fights of the year.
Another Brazilian Top Team member who is confirmed to be fighting at the event is the "Zen Machine" Mario Sperry! Mario will be fighting at the event against an as yet to be named opponent. Several names are being considered at this point, but FCF was told today that Sperry will be making his Pride debut on November 3rd. This will only be the first fight of a multi-fight contract. With all those names, Pride 17 looks to be shaping as an exciting event.
FCF will be on hand to provide full coverage of the event.

The veteran Renken has fought all over the world and faced top name competition. Vitale was strong as a 200lb fighter. At this lighter weight he could be a monster! He has spent more time in the gym to make this new weight. Many predict big things for the newly invigorated Vitale. Will this just be a "tune-up" for Vitale? John Renken hopes not. Vitale is a 3-1 favorite.

America's fastest rising MMA star, Duane "BANG" Ludwig will be fighting this Friday, October 12 2001. Duane will be fighting George Humbert of Los Angeles in a 5 round Pro Muay Thai bout in the semi-main event of the Warriors Cup of America.

Catch the new episode of Full Contact Fighter tomorrow (Friday) night at 11:30PM (Eastern time) on the Sunshine Network. This episode of FCF TV includes a feature on UFC World Welterweight Champ Carlos Newton.

Check with your local cable or satellite provider and your local listings.

KOTC 9 DVD Now In Stock!

Showtime
June 23, 2001
Soboba Casino
San Jacinto, California

Which style will remain supreme?
Which man will be left standing?
Who will be the King of the Cage?

LAS VEGAS (October 12, 2001) - Fans will have the opportunity to purchase tickets to the most explosive event in Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino's The Joint this coming Saturday, November 3rd. The WFA will showcase 16 world-class professional fighters competing in eight extreme full contact fighting bouts. WFA promises to be not just any event, but the ultimate in MMA and sports entertainment today. The event will begin promptly at 8:00PM (PT) with doors opening at 7:00PM (PT).

This could be a beauty! Diaz is a tremendously skilled submission fighter with wins all over the world. He is equally versed standing and on the ground. Yagin may not have the experience, or even the skill of Diaz...but he is ultra-aggressive and has one of the biggest hearts in the game. Win or lose, look for Yagin to push the fight from start to finish and Diaz to counter. Diaz 2-1 favorite.

Saturday - October 13, 2001

From the event's promoter:

Don't Forget"Beasts from the East"

PREMIERE PPV of "BEASTS FROM THE EAST" will be on DIRECTV, DishNetwork and TVN on 10/13 (Sat)!

Mark "The Hammer" Coleman vs. Rodrigo "Minotauro" Nogueira

Don "The Predator" Frye vs. Gilbert "The Hurricane" Yvel

Guy Mezger vs. Ricardo Arona

Daijiro Matsui vs. Murilo Ninja

Akira Shoji vs. Semmy Schilt

Assuerio Silva vs. Norihisa Yamamoto

Gary Goodridge vs. Yoshiaki Yatsu

Channel 101, $24.95, 6:00 PM ET
Channel 455, $24.95, 6:00 PM ET

From the event's promoter:

Gladiator Challenge #7

Gladiator Challenge #7 returns to Colusa Casino in Williams, CA on November 4, 2001.
Colusa has implemented a new arena style venue, which makes spectator veiwing outstanding.
We have 14 really excellent matchups on this card so you don't want to miss this one.
See the rematch between UFC & Rings veteran Aaron Brinks and the very powerful Frank Blessings from Team Whiteboys. This fight will be explosive!
Other main event matchups are as follows: IFC Champion Steve Heath fighting out of Cesar Gracie's camp vs undefeated Gladiator Challenge Champion Phillip Miller from Combat Grappling, Cesar Gracie's Jake Shields vs his
former trainer, Robert Ferguson from Team Freedom. Cesar Gracie's Marty Armendarez vs the always exciting Brian Sleeman from the Dragon's Lair. Also featuring Buck Greer out of Chris Brennan's Next Generation Academy vs Amod from the Team Freedom School.
Gladiator Challenge sells out fast, so get your tickets right away. You can purchase tickets online: www.ticketsplus.com or here are other locations you can purchase them. Also you can visit us at www.gladiatorchallenge.com

Friday night, November 2, the Blaisdell Arena in Honolulu, Hawaii will rock as hometown favorite Egan Inoue and #10 world ranked (MMA Writers Assoc.) Joe Doerksen will battle for the inaugural Super Brawl middleweight Championship belt. For the first time a Super Brawl match can be bet on legally. Just log onto http://www.mvpsportsbook.com/ and navigate to "betting lines" and pick "other" then scroll down to Super Brawl. Inoue opened up a slight favorite but the line will move as more bets are made.

T.Jay Thompson said "We think this will add more excitement to an already awesome card!"

GET YOUR TICKETS NOW!
$25 Advance General Admission Visa/Mastercard => www.nagafighter.com
- All pre-sales ticket holders will be let in (At 6 PM) 30 minutes prior to people who buy tickets at the door. Get better seats, buy your tickets in advance! Doors open at 6:30 for general public, 1st match is at 7PM.
$50 Front Row Seats - Includes Free Mass Destruction T-shirt & 2 Free Drinks. You can obtain tickets in advance from our website or by mail.
Simply send $25 per ticket or $50 (Front Row) to the address below, Tickets will be sent to you within five days. Advance Tickets by Check mail check to:
Kipp Kollar, 35 Valley Run Drive, Cromwell, CT 06416 - (860)-635-1867
AUDIENCE SUMO MATCHES ARE BACK!!!!!
http://nagafighter.com/MassDestruction/md5/MD5.htm for more info
Ring Girls, Sumo Matches, Beer & Doc Otis - What else do ya need?

From the event's promoter:

Warriors Quest Update:

Pete "The Secret Weapon" Spratt vs. Dennis Asche
Spratt, who just came off a war in Warriors Quest 2 against Ron Jhun will have another war as he faces IFC Tournament Champion Dennis Asche. Asche is currently undefeated with an impressive 7-0 record.

Also for those who are wondering if the Eugene Jackson vs. Niko Vitale match will happen, YES it will. I have both contracts signed.

From the event's promoter:

The BANG!Was Heard at WARRIORS CUP OF AMERICACulver City, California

Veteran Muay Thai and Mixed Martial Arts fighter Duane BANG! Ludwig added another "W" to his professional fight record as he won a unanimous decison against a very game George Humbert of L.A.

The bout was five round Muay Thai defense of his IMTC Muay Thai Title.

From his manager/cornerman Sven "BOOGIE" Bean:

"George was tough, he pushed Duane, but Duane showed his biggest weapon was his heart and earned a unanimous decision after 5 rounds.Duane was holding the edge in 3 of 4 rounds and then in the fifth he swept George 3 times and had him on the verge of k.o. when the bell rang for the end of the fight!!! GREAT FIGHT!!! "

Look for Duane to stay busy with bouts scheduled for November and December.

From the event's promoter:

IHC MIDDLEWEIGHT DIVISION PREPARES FOR WAR!

HAMMOND, IN -- The Ironheart Crown brings an exciting Middleweight Title Bout to Hammond, Indiana! Keith Hackney student, Jay Buck is a rising star who has multiple victories to his name and is now starting a career in Japan's Shooto organization. Brett Al-Azzawi, now training under Dan Severn, has years of experience and has fought the best world-class athletes that the sport has to offer. Both of these aggressive fighters are known for coming out of the corner swinging...

...and swinging, and swinging, and swinging!

"My record may not be the greatest," Al-Azzawi says, "but look at who I've fought! I'll fight anyone. That's what makes me different from a lot of other fighters. I don't pick my fights." At first, this may sound like a lot of hot air, but a quick review of his resume confirms his bold statements. Al-Azzawi has faced the best names in the sport, many of them outweighing him by as much as 25 pounds. Jermaine Andre, Matt Hughes, Joe Doerksen, Egan Inoue, Adrian Serrano, and Dave Strasser are all former opponents that Brett has faced. He has competed in all of the big-name shows, including Extreme Challenge, HooknShoot, Dangerzone, SuperBrawl, and many others. Al-Azzawi won the FFC title in an 8-man, single-elimination tournament, and he recently won the Michigan State Non-Gi middleweight grappling championship.

But who is Jay Buck? For those who don't follow the sport closely, the name may not ring a bell, but Jay Buck is definitely one of the Midwest's finest up-and-comers. He has fought several times in the HooknShoot, and while he maintains a 3-2-0 record, Jeff Osborne, HooknShoot promoter and UFC commentator, has great things to say about him. "Every match Buck has had for HnS has been a 'fight of the night.' His two HnS losses were medical stoppages. He is a definite crowd pleaser. Buck vs. Al-Azzawi will be a great fight!"

Their backgrounds and fight records aside, what makes this a great match-up is these two fighters' aggressive styles. "They both come out banging," says Mike Castellano, promoter of the Chicago Challenge. "They both know how to hit, and they both set out to prove it at the sound of the bell."

Eric Moon, the Ironheart Crown's former promoter, has this to add: "Brett's one of the only guys out there who will throw high kicks to the head, repeatedly, without any reservation. While this technique is making a comeback in the modern era of well-rounded fighters, Brett has been doing it from day one."

But don't expect Buck to go down from a couple of head kicks. This is a guy who can take as much as he can dish out. According to Osborne, "He definitely likes to trade blows, and the more you hit Jay Buck, the better he fights!"

Don't miss this exciting bout for the IHC Middleweight title! This is a fight that will approximate the Matamoros-Higuerros bout in technique, and likely surpass it in its intensity! Tickets are on sale now. A limited number of ringside seats and tables are available. For more information, call 773-793-6555 in the Chicago area or 219-844-8504 in Northwest Indiana. Tickets & information are also available on the website at www.ironheartcrown.com.

Three more matches have been finalized for the November 3rd Pride-17 card...

Heath Herring vs. Antonio Rodrigo "Minotauro" Nogueira

Semmy Schilt vs. Masaaki Satake

Renzo Gracie vs. Michiyoshi Ohara

From the event's promoter:

Super Brawl's Fifth Anniversaryto Air on Hawaii UPN Affiliate K5

Egan Inoue, Marcelo Tiger and many others fought on Super Brawl's 5th Anniversary, held in July, at the Blaisdell Arena in Honolulu, HI. Channel 5, the local UPN affiliate, has agreed to air the program. The first confirmed time is on Saturday, October 27, at Midnight. More air dates to be announced.

T.Jay Thompson said "We are excited about giving people all throughout Hawaii the chance to see what we thought to be a great event! We will continue our relationship with KFIVE and air future events."

Wanna be on TV? You can be on an upcoming episode of FCF TV... well, sort of. We're looking for your thoughts on who will win each of the scheduled fights on the main card of UFC 34. We will announce the results of the survey on the Full Contact Fighter television show that will air the week of October 29th. Some of the commentary we receive may appear in the November 2001 issue of FCF as well as on the television show.

Once again promoters Rudimar Fedrigo and Jorge Guimaraes are showing that they are very serious about their plans for NHB in Brazil, and the next MECA event is already promising a great card full of action!
With the new plans for the upcoming year, featuring MECA events every month, with fighters from all over the world and staging the show all over Brazil, MECA couldn't start the year of 2002 with better plans for the show. Chute Boxe team coach Rudimar Fedrigo told FCF that the next MECA will be likely held January 28, probably at the Circulo Militar in Curitiba, the same venue that held MECA 5 in June. "The show will be held there, in fact I'm going to have a meeting with them [the people in charge of the Circulo Militar] today to make sure that this date is available. But I'm sure everything will be okay for the 28th of January," said Rudimar. Not only the show is practically scheduled, but there are already a number of great fights that are already confirmed.
Rudimar was able to tell FCF some of the fights that will go down at MECA 6! Pride and MECA veteran and Chute Boxe heavyweight Assuério Silva will be headlining the event against another experienced heavyweight and Pride veteran Carlos Barreto! Not only that, but the newest Chute Boxe sensation Murilo Ninja Rua will be facing a tough Brazilian fighter in Jorge Navalhada. In addition, UFC and IVC veteran Jorge Macaco Patino will be facing another very experienced fighter and UFC veteran Flavio Moura. It will be very interesting to see Macaco, who had some famous battles against Pele in the past, fighting in Curitiba in the presence of the Chute Boxe fans, against a very tough and skilled opponent in Flavio Moura. Also, a fight that was supposed to happen at MECA 5 -- Zinho vs. Daniel Acassio -- but didn't happen because of a last minute injury backstage, will happen at MECA 6.
With all these great fights, the presence of well known names like Carlos Barreto, Jorge Macaco, Assuério Silva and Murilo Ninja, plus the likely appearance of Luis Azeredo on the card (the only fighter to have defeated Anderson Silva), among other surprises, MECA can't start the year of 2002 in better fashion, and FCF will be there to cover all the action!

From Zuffa:

UFC Meet & Greet Updates:Change for Tonight's Meet & Greet

Hosted by UFC President Dana White and Public Relations Coordinator Josh Hedges

Just blocks away from Ground Zero, in downtown New York City, The Sporting Club was host to the UFC's "Meet and Greet" last night. Fans rubbed elbows with some of their favorite UFC stars including Matt Serra and Ricardo
Almeida. As Zuffa's president Dana White looked on with a smile from ear-to-ear, many fans got their first glimpse of UFC 33's preliminary fights as well as highlights of the main fights that had previously aired -- all shown on a large screen TV. UFC T-shirts, videos, and other merchandise were raffled off throughout the evening, as well as a voucher for the next
pay-per-view event on November 2nd. The big prize of the evening went to local fan and fighter, Robert Guarino. Robert had come out to hook up with other fighters for future training opportunities. He left with airfare, hotel, and tickets to the next UFC, compliments of Zuffa. Josh Hedges, UFC's Public Relations Coordinator had this to say of the evening. "It's great to be back here on the East Coast. We have large fan base out here and its really exciting to see them come out and support the UFC and this sport, especially at a time like this, with all that's going on. Seeing people come together and unite for an event like this is inspiring." And just as fast as they were here, Dana and Josh were gone with only minutes left to catch a plane for the next "Meet and Greet" to be held tonight in Boston.

Friday - October 19, 2001

Is There A New Sheriff In the 170lb Town?"The Juggernaut" Sean Sherk
By Chris Onzuka - Chris@Onzuka.comOriginally printed in the September 2001 issue of FCF

There is a relatively new entrant into the 170lb class, I say "relatively new" because he has actually been fighting for three years now and has been quietly destroying everyone in his path. This juggernaut is Sean Sherk, out of the Minnesota Martial Arts Academy, the same academy that produced Dave Menne, Brad Kohler, and John Renken. Sherk has been making a name for himself by winning numerous tournaments, such as the Danger Zone and Extreme Challenge, he has not only racked up a lot of experience [18-0-1], but has proven that he is very durable, something that you don't often find in today's fighters. Many people saw Sherk for the first time when he took apart Tito Ortiz's protégé, Tiki, in his UFC debut. Since then, Sherk has kept fighting, but for some strange reason has not been invited back into the UFC. I got a hold of this well-spoken warrior and dug into his background and uncovered his thoughts about his UFC and Pancrase debuts.

FCF: Let's start off with your UFC debut, how did that come about? Did you just receive a phone call or something?Sean Sherk: Actually, my trainer, Greg Nelson received a call from Monte Cox. Monte was the one who set that up. About two months before the fight, they set that up and let me know.

FCF: Was Tiki named as your opponent already?SS: Yes, they matched me up against Tiki right away, so I knew exactly who I was fighting two months ahead.

FCF: What did you think going into the fight against the UFC Champ Tito Ortiz's protégé, Tiki?SS: I expected him to be tough. Fortunately, I was able to get hold of some tapes, so I had something to go off of. From what I got off of the tapes, he was a good stand up guy, good on his feet, he had explosive hands, good kicks and he also looked like he had a good base. I saw a couple fights that when a couple guys shot in on him, it looked like he had good balance. So I knew that he was going to be well rounded. He definitely looked well rounded. One of the fights that I saw was the one where he fought Bob Cook. I basically knew that it was going to be one of my best fights ever.

Gonna be a MMA Halloween on Hawaii TVAdditional Air Date for Super Brawl XXI

Hawaiian Channel 5, better known as "KFIVE the Home Team", the local UPN affiliate, has added an additional air date for the Super Brawl XXI show. In addition to the October 27, midnight time slot, an October 31, midnight time slot has been added.

Reality Combat Fighting XII will be held on October 20, 2001 in Houma, LA. at the Town Hall. Houma has an excellent history of attendance for Reality Combat Fighting events. The crowd is always pumped up and ready for action. RCF XII is going to deliver the most exciting fight card Houma has seen yet. The fight card is stacked with twelve of Houma's most talented and popular fighters. With a great fight comes the best ring girls this sport has ever seen. The ring girls are brought to us by the one and Houma's only Body Elite. Each ring girl is specifically trained by the Body Elite Staff. Body Elite produces ten of the most physically fit ring girls.
For tickets and directions call Body Elite 985-851-4215 or Mr. Goldmans at 985-872-9191.

UFC 33: Victory in Vegas. Fans in attendance were treated to an unforgettable show, but PPV audiences saw only part of the show, due to technical/timing issues and all televised fights going the distance. Aaron Crecy reports live from Vegas.

In an exclusive interview with TOOL's Maynard James Keenan, Keenan discusses MMA and training with Rickson Gracie.

The Ultimate Interview: UFC President Dana White "shoots from the lip" in an exclusive, no holds barred pre-UFC 33 interview.

SHOOTO To The Top 8: fight action live from Korakuen Hall in Tokyo, Japan.

Hayato "MACH" Sakurai talks about his loss to Anderson Silva and his plans for the future.

Get to know "Pele" Landi in the huge interview by Eduardo Alonso.
Beasts from Brazil: Pride 16 live from Osaka, Japan.

We bring you down to the mats in Rio de Janeiro for the International Masters & Seniors of Jiu-Jitsu.

Don Frye returned to action in Pride-16, he talks with us in a candid interview before his fight with Gilbert Yvel.

We go back to Rio for Copa Cyclone, which made history in Brazil as the event united all Luta-Livre factions.

Fernando "Margarida" Pontes: meet the young man touted as "the new Rickson Gracie".

Chris Onzuka takes a look at HAMMA, the Hawaiian Association of Mixed Martial Arts, the newly formed group looking to regulate MMA in Hawaii.

Training and Fighting: Making the jump from part-time to full-time.

The Odds are Good Betting on Black: Jason Black has been piling up win after win on his way up the MMA ladder, get to know this rising MMA star.

Every issue of Full Contact Fighter is jam-packed with fight news from the U.S. to Brazil to Japan. FCF travels the globe to bring the fights to you. Get yours today! Available at Tower Records stores around the world or by subscription...

WORLD FIGHTING ALLIANCE ANNOUNCES OFFICIALLINE-UP FOR NOVEMBER 3RD CARD

THE WFA SIGNS WORLD CLASS ATHLETES TO EVENT PREMIERE

LAS VEGAS (October 18, 2001) - The new World Fighting Alliance Mixed Martial Arts event is set to explode at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino's The Joint this November 3rd in Las Vegas. The card will round out eight bouts featuring sixteen world-class fighters at the top of their game. The WFA is sanctioned by Nevada State Athletic Commissioner (NSAC) Marc Ratner.

Highlighting the card this evening will be a Middleweight bout featuring Jermaine Andre, a fighter known for his powerful striking ability and power versus Ron Juhn, a ground fighter who is equally at home trading punches or taking his opponent down for a lesson in submission. Whether on the ground or on their feet, this match promises intense action from these tenacious opponents.

Making WFA the most explosive event in Mixed Martial Arts this November 3rd are the following fighters:

The Danger Zone's Fight Night at Broadripple Place is shaping up nicely. We still have spots for amateur fighters. All fighters interested please go to our web site http://www.the-dangerzone.com/ and fill out a fighter application.
Below are fighters that have confirmed for event.
Please refer to our web stie for additional information on event.

Renzo Gracie Special Camp in NovemberBJJ and MMA superstar will be teaching in Rio

GRACIE CAMP is proud to announce that we are now accepting VISA and Mastercard credit cards. All you have to do to secure your spot right now in our camp in log on to www.graciecamp.com/eng/signup.shtml and enroll on line.

We also have a hotline in the U.S. for information on the best airfares (starting at US$ 477), future camps and visa application. Please call Gilberto: 1 310 822-5811

MMA and BJJ superstar Renzo Gracie will be teaching at the GRACIE CAMP in November (10th - 17th), covering vale-tudo and submission wrestling techniques.

Keep in mind that GRACIE CAMP operates with a limited number of 15 guests per program, so make sure you and your friends secure your spots as soon as possible!

Author's note: Although he was originally scheduled to fight on the card, LaVerne Clark was not allowed over the border into Canada due to past misdemeanor charges. Not to sure what the charges were, but they were from years ago.

From the event's promoter:

WHERE THE FIGHT CLUB MEETS THE NIGHT CLUB

MEDICAL CONDITION FORCES ALFONSO ALCAREZ OUT OFWFA COMPETITION

THE WFA IS STILL SHAPING UP TO BE MMA'S HOTTEST EVENT DESPITE LAST MINUTE REPLACEMENTS

LAS VEGAS (October 22, 2001) - Alfonso Alcarez, slated to compete against Stephen Paling, has pulled out of the WFA's November 3rd card due to a bout with appendicitis this afternoon. Alcarez is a Las Vegas native with credentials in wrestling, professional boxing and kickboxing. He is known in the MMA scene as the man who fought Jens Pulver, the UFC's Lightweight Champion, to a draw in his first UFC bout.

In his place, John Lewis is extremely happy to announce his replacement. A very game Joao Roque has stepped up to the plate to fill the vacant slot. The top ten ranked Roque is trained by world renowned Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu specialist Andre Pederneiras.

This evening, Stephen Paling agreed to take the fight with Joao Roque with just two weeks notice. Paling's spirit of competition exemplifies a true warrior - anyone, anytime.

The month of November marks a major anniversary for one of the most successful fighting teams in the world, the Chute Boxe team will have been in existence for 25 years! Chute Boxe started primarily as a Muay Thai only team, restricted to the city of Curitiba in Brazil, and no one ever dreamed that 25 years later the team would reach such a success and recognition among the fighting community all over the world!
A fighting team with names like Vanderlei Silva, Pele Landi, Anderson Silva, Murilo Ninja and Assuerio Silva, coached by Rudimar Fedrigo, could not celebrate in another way other than fighting! So, in the best team's style, Chute Boxe will be celebrating their anniversary with another edition of the Storm Muay Thai Championship!
The event will be held November 8th, at the Moinho Sao Roque, in Curitiba. Moinho Sao Roque is a very nice venue that plays host to shows of pop bands and singers from Brazil, and is always packed. The event will feature 10 Muay Thai fights, with MECA and Pride veteran Assuerio Silva doing the main event in his first Muay Thai fight under the Chute Boxe team. Assuerio will be facing a fighter called Bispo, who trains under former Rudimar student Noguchi. The event promises a lot of surprises to celebrate the Team's 25th anniversary, and the whole Chute Boxe team will be in attendance at the event.

From the event's promoter:

HEAVYWEIGHT SHOWDOWN AT THE IRONHEART CROWN!

HAMMOND, IN -- Jim Theobald grew up on a farm in Wheeling, Illinois, helping his family grow green beans to sell at the local markets. He was a successful wrestler in highschool, and in 1995 he began his training in the martial arts. While in college, he began a successful career of mixed martial arts fighting. Now, six years later, he has over sixty fights to his name with very few losses. He has fought across the United States and around the world. In the last two years his only defeat has come at the hands of Jeremy Horn, a champion on several of the world's biggest fighting circuits. He currently holds two heavyweight titles in Denver's Ring of Fire, and in the Midwest's Ironheart Crown. On November 10th this year, he plans on defending one of his belts at Ironheart Crown III in Hammond, Indiana.

His opponent? Steve Lauretto, a Chicago cop who was once a successful collegiate boxer. Lauretto has also spent the past four years adding aspects of the mixed martial arts to his training regimen. Under the tutelage of Keith Hackney, he has learned to adapt his boxing skills to the no-holds-barred arena. Through his training with Eddie Yoshimura of the Chicago fitness center, he has learned to execute powerful Shidokan kicks. And under the guidance of UFC and Shooto veterans Joey and Danny Gilbert, he has mastered the art of submission grappling. The product of these endeavors: a powerful striker with solid ground skills. While relatively new to the ring of MMA competition, Lauretto's only defeat was a controversial decision in which he scored three knockdowns on his opponent. He is definitely a force to be reckoned with, but is he ready for the challenge which lies ahead

Keith Hackney thinks so. "He's definitely ready," Hackney says. "Theobald has more experience, but Steve is the millennium's new breed of fighter. He is extremely well rounded. Good on his feet, and good on the ground. He's in great shape, and he definitely has a great chance of beating Jim. It's going to be a great fight, but I think we might be taking home that belt."

Theobald's thoughts on his opponent? "I hear he's pretty tough. I know he's powerful and he has great hands, but I've been fighting for years and I've beaten a lot of really good fighters. I know Steve has several strong coaches, and he's working with a really good group of guys, but I'm just gonna keep training like I always do. I have good guys in my corner too, and I'm pretty confident that I'll be keeping my title."

Theobald and Lauretto will be featured in one of four title bouts on a card with fourteen scheduled fights. Tickets are on sale now, and a limited number of ringside seats are available. For more information, call 219-844-8504 in northwest Indiana or 773-793-6555 in Chicago. Information is also available on the event website at www.ironheartcrown.com

"We always end the year with a big show, and HnS KINGS is really gearing up to be our biggest event ever!" states promoter Jeff Osborne. "We have an international card, we have scouted a lot of guys and we think we have a card of really competitive HOOKnSHOOT to present in November."

"Leading off are the title fights, with Carlos Barreto, Ian Freeman, Jeff Curran, Anthony Hamlet, Leigh Remedios and Phil Johns, we are very pleased with the main events. And with Travis Lutter v Keith Rockel, well this is a battle of the 'Quiet Men'. Both do their talking in the ring, both are technical and hardnosed, and this is a true sleeper on the card." Osborne speaks.

"We are also working to announce OFFICIAL SHOOTO, and we should have an announcement soon" continues Osborne. The Japanese press is announcing Takumi Nakayama (7-0-2 in SHOOTO), plus Shikou Yamashita and Yohei Suzuki will all be competing the 'KINGS' event.

Nakayama, an A CLASS SHOOTER who is regarded as up and coming stated in the ring at a SHOOTO event this weekend "I don't know very much about my opponent, but I will just try usual my fight. I will go to the USA not for vacation but to compete in SHOOTO!. I don't care about my opponent, I will do the best I can to represent myself, as usual." finished Nakayama.

"Finally, we are pumped beyond belief about the return of Aaron Riley. Riley is still a youngster, and he is coming off a tough decision loss to Yves Edwards. Arron returns for a 'comeback' fight against Mike Willus. Mike is a high precision fighter who is also young - he trains out of Pittsburgh, and comes with a 3-3 record. Mike knows he is the underdog, but he wanted the fight, he knows Aaron and he wants the challenge." explains Osborne. "We love this match as well, because anything can happen, but most importantly we take some pressure off Aaron and just let him come and fight - and that is what the Indiana fans want to see!."

"Next week we will announce the details of the two day event, which matches on which night. We have some other surprises as well! So this is what we have so far - there is more to come" concludes Osborne.

The International Vale Tudo Council &International Vale Tudo South Americaare proud to present:
International Vale Tudo Championship Venezuela:USA versus Brazil

The first Vale Tudo tournament ever to be held in Venezuela will take place on November 11th (Sunday), in the capital Caracas. For the first time, the Venezuelan fans will have a taste of the toughest Vale Tudo Competition in the World.

The IVC Venezuela is inovating this time, featuring a monster 16-man tournament, absolute weight division (no weight distinction), with the champion fighting 4 consecutive times on the same night to win. A true challenge for all the athletes. Due to the fierce format of this championship, some rules and regulations were slightly changed, to make it safer for the big boys, yet intense and exciting to keep up with the IVC tradition. Check them out:

All matches will have a 10-minute time limit, no rounds or resting periods.

The fighters will wear gloves

Headbutts will not be allowed

Jumps on downed opponents will not be allowed

Hitting on the back of the head or spine will not be allowed

All the other techniques that made the IVC the toughest Vale Tudo competition will be allowed (elbows standing or down, kicks and stomps on downed opponents, knees on the ground...).

And the card features a great variety of fighters, both in terms of experience and size. Some of the highlights are: Jason Godsey, making his return to the IVC ring; the antecipated Vale Tudo return of "The Bull" - Dan Bobish ; American wrestler Roger Neff ,also looking for the belt; Brazilian showman "The Pedro", one of the most active fighters of the IVC. Plus lighter talents like Milton Bahia, who declared he will fight anyone no matter what the size or strength; Budokan fighter Cyborg, who has won several heavyweight bouts in the past; Angelo Araujo, one of the newest brazilian revelations who has won his last 8 matches; and Luis Claudio das Dores who returns to the IVC after his vice-championship.

Dream Stage Entertainment recently announced that Team Quest's Dan Henderson will face Chute Boxe's Murilo "Ninja" Rua in Pride 17. For Henderson, the match-up presents an opportunity to earn a measure of redemption, as he is pitted against the teammate of Vanderlei Silva -- the only man to beat the American Greco Roman Olympian in mixed martial arts competition.

"Ninja fought once in Pride and was very exciting," said Yukino Kanda, Vice President of Sales, Marketing and Talent Relations for Dream Stage Entertainment. "We consider him one of the top middleweight fighters, and Dan has definitely proven himself as one of the top fighters in the middleweight class. We anticipate that it is going to be a very exciting match-up."

Ninja made a splashy debut in September's Pride 16, soundly defeating Daijiro Matsui via referee stoppage in the third round. In that fight, the Brazilian demonstrated sound grappling, striking and submission skills. Meanwhile, Henderson is 2 - 1 in Pride competition, having won his last two fights via knockout and technical knockout. Similarly, Henderson continues to win fans with increasingly potent standup techniques to accompany his world-class grappling skills.

The fight with Ninja will be the first of a new three-fight contract for Henderson. In addition, he also agreed to compete in the 2002 Pride Middleweight Grand Prix.

"Dan Henderson is one of the top middleweight fighters in the world," stated Kanda. "He has fought in Pride three times and has delivered great fights in each show, so we really wanted to sign him to a new contract."

Henderson was equally pleased with the new deal. "I'm very happy to re-sign with Pride," he commented. "And I'm particularly excited about the possibility that the event might take place in Las Vegas, which is just two and a half hours from my hometown."

From the event's promoter:

Gladiator Challenge #7 News

Pete Sprat signs for Gladiator Challenge#7
Current Ring of Fire Champion, Pete Sprat, known for his knockout power & pinpoint accuracy will test his skills against Brian Sleeman from the Dragon's Lair. Sleeman is coming off of a convincing victory over Lion's Den fighter Tony Galindo, and looks to chalk up another with Sprat.
Also Cruz Chacon out of Boulder Colorado & currently the Rocky Mountain Champion will face W.C.G standout, Phillip Miller. Miller is an All American Wrestler who likes to stand and bang with anyone. Miller is also udefeated & is looking to capture the 185Lbs Gladiator Challenge Title belt.
Another outstanding matchup on this card is Rich Mendalson from Charles Gracie's Academy & current Pan American BJJ Champion, he will face off against Chris Brennan's & Next Generation's, Buck Greer. Greer is undefeated in NHB competition & is a very well rounded fighter in the world of Mixed Martial Arts.
This card will also feature Jake Shields from the Caesar Gracies camp, Robert Ferguson of Team Freedom, Charles "Crazy Horse" Bennet out of Florida, Noah Schnibel from The Animal House, and also, quickest Knockout Champion, Jeremy Edwards from Dave Velasquez's Extreme Fighting Academy.
This event sales out every time and there are less than 200 tickets left for this event so get your tickets now or be left out in the cold. You can purchase them online at: www.ticketsplus.com or or call Tickets Plus at: (800)585-3737 or purchase at Colusa Cacino at: (530)458-8844

RITC has upgraded the competition level for fighters seeking a challenge. RITC also serves as a "launching pad" for fighters looking to "move up the ladder" to compete in KOTC, Pride and the UFC. Fighters such as Ricco Rodriquez, Homer Moore, Kauai Kupihea and Edwin Dewees have all competed on numerous occasions in RITC.

The show is about 2 weeks away and there will be approximately 15 fights. Here are just some of the planned match-ups.

Also featured on the card will be Farrell Frisby, and two of the three Upshur brothers. Ty, returning after a long absence, and James, returning following his huge upset Main Event victory in RITC XXX where he was substituting for his injured brother Shawn. This should be an awesome show with a lot of fresh faces.

The Fight Card subject to change.

For both out-of-town and local fighters, weigh-ins will start at 3PM at Celebrity Theatre on November 7 (the day of the event). It's important to check-in there no later than 5PM for your weigh-in, administrative paperwork, the rules meeting and pre-fight physicals.

Tickets for RITC available at the Celebrity Theatre Box Office (602-267-1600) or at Ticketmaster (480-784-4444). For additional information, please call 480-446-8127 or visit www.rageinthecage.com

Friday - October 26, 2001

Catch an all new episode of Full Contact Fighter TV tonight on Sunshine Network at 11:30PM (Eastern time).

Meet the hard hitting Brazilian, Pedro Rizzo; a look at BJ Penn & Caol Uno; fighting from King of the Cage, and so much more!

Check with your local cable or satellite provider and your local listings.

ORGANIZATIONS TEAM UP TO BRING WORLD CLASS MIXED MARTIAL ARTS COMPETITION TO HAWAII.

Honolulu, HI - On December 15th 2001, Pacific Sports Entertainment (PSE) and the newly formed United Shoot Association (USA) in conjunction with the International Fighting Championships (IFC), will light up the State of Hawaii with the event of the year, "SHOGUN" at the Honolulu Convention Center.

"SHOGUN" will be a night of tremendous excitement as some of the world's top mixed martial arts fighters battle in a cage. This will mark the first for Hawaii to have a cage used in a Hawaiian mixed martial arts event. No strangers to the ring, Hawaii's own, Egan Inoue, will be headlining the night in a bout against Dennis Hallman, who will be moving up in weight in an EXPLOSIVE match! Both men are Pride and UFC veterans, respectively.

In addition, there will be a tribute to Brian Johnston during the event. Johnston, a professional mixed martial arts veteran and coach, was planning a comeback in the sport, but recently suffered an unfortunate stroke. Brian Johnston merchandise will be sold at the event to aid his recovery fund.

Stay Tuned. The complete card will be released soon.

From the event's promoter:

Super Brawl 22- Inoue v DoerksenWeb-Cast Starts Saturday, Nov. 3rd

Hawaiian Channel 5, better known as "KFIVE the Home Team", the local UPN affiliate, will be airing the November 2, Super Brawl event on their website, www.k5thehometeam.com. This will be a FREE airing to all who access the website anytime in the week following the event. "We are thrilled to provide this service to all our fans who do not have the capacity to see the event live." T.Jay Thompson, President, Extreme Sports Productions. This will be the next best thing to watching it live, airing less than 12 hours after the live event! The quality will be outstanding. Super Brawl 21, is available for viewing now at the same link. Check it out!!

The Extreme Challenge Trials, the last chance to qualify for the 2001 MMA National Championships, is scheduled for Nov. 17 at Star & Stripes Nightclub in Davenport, Iowa.
Headlining the event will be two pro bouts: Jason Medina (6-1) vs. Matt Shaw (6-2)... and big Tim Sylvia (5-0) vs. TBA.
Amateur tourneys are scheduled in five weight divisions: 150-under, 170-under, 190-under, 210-under and heavyweight.
Winners in each division earn a berth in the MMA Nationals, scheduled in December. The Nationals consist of qualifiers from shows all over the country, including Atlanta, Minneapolis, Decatur, Ill., and Davenport, Iowa. Winners at the Nationals earn pro contracts to fight in the Extreme Challenge and Super Brawl.
For applications, contact Monte Cox at Fiteiowa@aol.com.

Pre-purchase ticket holders will be allowed entry first and obtain the best seats so get your tickets now! We will let advance ticket holders in at 6PM. If you purchase tickets at the door, you will not enter until 6:30 PM. Buy your tickets ahead of time and get in the front rows! You can obtain tickets from Kipp Kollar or order them online. To order by mail simply send $25 per ticket for general admission, or $50 per ticket for front row (Includes Free Mass Destruction T-shirt & 2 Free Drinks (Beer, Wine, etc.)) to the address below and we will mail you back the tickets within five days.

Reality Super Fighting announces its next mixed martial arts event, "New Blood Conflict II" which promises great fights and much more. These no-holds-barred cage fights will be held at the Bell Auditorium in Augusta, GA on October 27, 2001.

The main event features the legendary Dan "The Beast" Severn against Georgia's own Forrest Griffin.

King Of The Streets
December 7 and 8, 2001
Pelham Civic Center
Pelham, Al

Two nights of tournament action, plus pro no-holds-barred fights each night. December 8 DAN THE BEAST SEVERN will be featured in a Super Star no-holds-barred fight.

From Dan Severn & Becky Levi:

SEVERN AND BOBISHTO FIGHT IN AUGUSTA, GEORGIA

This weekend ends a long term hiatus for UFC, IVC veteran Dan Bobish. Bobish 340lb. is making his MMA comeback this coming weekend in Augusta, GA. Look for him to punish his opponent in a tune up fight for IVC tournament taking place in November.

The 43 yr. old legend of MMA and the pioneer wrestler in the sport is taking on a young up and coming fighter in Forrest Griffin. Don't be surprised if you see a more aggressive Beast in this bout. The Beast has been working hard to make his last year as a fighter a great one.

The North American Grappling Association (NAGA) has selected Miami, Florida (Coral Reef Senior High School) to hold our 1st Annual US Nationals! We have competitors and teams traveling from all over the United States to compete in both Gi & No-Gi competition (In 8 RINGS of action)!

Florida has some of the top grappling teams in the United States and is why we have selected Miami for our US Nationals. Come support your team in the race for a National Team Title in both Gi & No-Gi competition. Competition teams include: Silveira Brothers, Xtreme Jiu-Jitsu, Popovitch, Relson Gracie (NAGA Hawaiian Champions), Academia of Martial Arts, Avellan, De La Riva, Infight, Marcio Simas, One Dragon Martial Arts, Bodycuts, Jorge Pereira, Rival, United Champions, Peacock Academy, Pedro Valenti, Tiger Schulmann and many more! Remember, you DO NOT have to belong to a team in order to compete. FREE NAGA T-SHIRTS to ALL fighters from the Team that scores the most points and wins the Team Title!

Native Long Islander Phil Baroni made his Ultimate Fighting Championship premiere at UFC 30 against Curtis Stout. Although he won a unanimous decision, Baroni was unimpressed with the fight. Coming off recent wins at Ken Shamrock's Megafight I and NAGA's Battle at the Beach, Phil gets a chance to redeem himself on November 2nd at UFC 34 in Las Vegas. He's squaring off against Team Quest member and wrestling Olympian Matt Lindland. Phil promises that this time around things will be different. I spoke to Phil about his pending fight.

FCF:How do you feel going into this fight? Any last minute concerns? How's your shoulder?PB: No last minute concerns. I feel 100% prepared for this fight. My shoulder is good.

FCF:Are you excited to be fighting in Las Vegas?PB: Sin City. Sounds like a place for me. I know I'll have fun hanging out afterwards. It doesn't matter where I fight, as long as I get to fight.

FCF:Who have you been training with lately? Should we expect to see Team Punishment in your corner?PB: Yes, Tito Ortiz will be in my corner for this fight for sure. I have been training on the East Coast with a lot of wrestlers. I also went up to Central Michigan University for three weeks to train, and have been preparing down here the last three weeks with some kickboxers.

FCF:You're facing a world-class wrestler at UFC 34. How does this factor into your training?PB: It doesn't factor at all. I'm a world-class wrestler myself and he has to pass through me. I'm the well-rounded mixed martial artist. He's, as you say, a world-class wrestler. I'm a world-class fighter. Lindland doesn't factor into my training at all. He better be prepared. What I've got, I'm bringing to the table. I hope he's ready to bring it.

FCF:What type of fight should fans expect between you and Lindland?PB: I'll be throwing bombs at his head. He'll try to survive, take me down, or push me up against the fence. I'll be able to work my way off the fence. He won't be able to take me down and I'm going to punish him every time he attempts it. Every time he tries to close the distance, he will get hurt.

FCF:Where's Phil Baroni gonna party after the show?PB: I'll start off at the after-party, and wherever the "hot spot" is after that is where I'll be.

FCF:After UFC 34, what's next for Phil Baroni?PB: Hopefully, the world title shot. Tell Dave Menne not to scratch up that belt. Put it in a plastic bag because it 's on loan right now. It's my belt.

FCF:Any final words for the fans out there?PB: I know the fans have been crying for some action and I'm Mr. Excitement. I'm gonna bring it like I always do. It's up to Lindland if he wants to fight or go into survival mode, and he's not going to survive if that's all he wants to do. There's going to be a lot of action and it's going to be non-stop. I might be the most controversial, but I'm also the most dynamic and exciting fighter in MMA today. On November 2nd, I'll be doing what I do best in the perfect place -- Sin City. I'll be breaking the law.

Purebred Gym fighters, highly regarded in Japan, will be fighting in "SHOGUN" on December 15th, at the Honolulu Convention Center. Enson Inoue, owner of Purebred and MMA veteran, will be coaching three of his top fighters at the event.

The three Purebred fighters making their USA debut will be Makoto Ishikawa, Norifumi "Kid" Yamamoto, and "Shogun" Kawakatsu.

Main EventMiddleweight Bout (170-185 lbs.)

Egan Inoue

Dennis Hallman

Three Additional Bouts Announced

Featherweight Bout (135-145 lbs.)

Philip Perez

Norifumi "Kid" Yamamoto

Featherweight Bout (135-145 lbs.)

Makoto Ishikawa

Dave Velasquez

Welterweight Bout (155-170 lbs.)

"Shogun" Kawakatsu

TBA

More of the fight card to be released soon.

Tuesday - October 30, 2001

Catch an all new episode of Full Contact Fighter TV tonight on MSG Network at 11:30PM (Eastern time).

This jam-packed show will include...

Randy Couture feature

Matt Hughes Feature

A dramatic look back at Josh Barnett vs. Bobby Hoffman from FutureBrawl

A preview of Williams vs. Rodriguez which includes comments from Pete Williams, Ken Shamrock and Ricco Rodriguez.

Interview with Carlos Newton

Results from FCF interactive UFC 34 poll.

Check with your local cable or satellite provider and your local listings.

This episode will also air on TSN tomorrow, October 31st, at 7:30PM Eastern.

UFC 34 Betting Lines

On the board at MGM, New York New York, Bellagio, Mirage, Treasure Island, Golden Nugget:

Couture

-160

Rizzo

+130

Newton

-200

Hughes

+160

New KOTC Video Now In Stock!

Only $14.95!

King of The Cage 10Critical Mass
August 4, 2001
Soboba Casino
San Jacinto, California

Which style will remain supreme? Which man will be left standing? Who will be the King of the Cage?
See 15 fights:

Due to programming and technical errors, the Saturday night airing of Super Brawl 21 aired late and without the play-by-play and color commentary. Hawaiian Channel 5, better known as "KFIVE the Home Team", the local UPN affiliate, in Honolulu, Hawaii will now air Super Brawl 21 on two additional nights this week. Wednesday, Halloween at midnight and again on Thursday night at midnight. Also, check out there website, http://www.k5thehometeam.com/ to view the show online. Friday's Super Brawl 22, will be available for viewing on Saturday, November 3rd online and on KFIVE at a date to be announced. Check it out!!

HAMMOND, IN - For the past few weeks, Chicago and northwest Indiana fight fans have been on the edge of their seat, eagerly awaiting the upcoming lightweight title bout between current champion Henry Matamoros and the challenger, Rolando Higuerros. This exciting match had been one of the event's highlights, driving ticket sales and inciting a buzz among the local martial arts community.

Then, a promoter's worst nightmare unfolded as an old knee injury put Higuerros out of action, taking some of the punch out of what had been a great line up. "That fight was one of the best matches ever slated in Chicago," former IHC promoter Eric Moon remarks. "It was the fight that I was personally anticipating the most, and I'm sure that a lot of the fans were looking forward to it as well. I was crushed when I heard of Rolando's injury. Thank God Shannon called."

Shannon? Shannon "The Cannon" Ritch? Against Henry Matamoros? It may sound too good to be true, but just days after the show's best match-up turned cold, it has been re-ignited, burning even hotter than before! Shannon Ritch, training out of Buell Fighting Systems in Coolidge, Arizona is the current Internation Sport Combat Federation U.S. Champion with a mixed martial arts fighting record of 53 wins and 22 losses. He has been featured in Japan's Pride, Hawaii's SuperBrawl, Holland's MixFight, and other major events including the Extreme Challenge and the King of the Cage. He has faced the best world-class A-level fighters in the business, including Kazushi Sakuraba, Frank Shamrock, and Dennis Hallman. While Rolando Higuerros was a worthy opponent for Henry Matamoros, Shannon the Cannon brings much more to the table, adding to the aura of this upcoming event.

But is Shannon Ritch more than Matamoros can handle?

"I don't think so," Moon says. "Shannon has a lot more experience, but Matamoros is no novice. Henry has a record of 27 wins and only 5 losses. He has also fought in big shows and faced notable opponents, and he has maintained an incredibly good record in the process. I think Shannon is a much stronger striker, but Henry has a supernatural ability to take a punch, and his submission skills are as good as they get. It won't be easy for him, but Henry definitely has the tools to win this fight and keep his title. It's a great opportunity for him to get his name out. He really hasn't gotten the recognition that he deserves."

Obviously, Eric Moon thinks this is a good match, and for whatever its worth, the internet community seems to be in agreement. Just hours after the deal was made, an unknown source posted the information on the "Underground Forum" at mixedmartialarts.com, the internet's hottest source for mixed martial arts information. In response to the thread, half of the posts predicted a win for Mataomoros, while the other half predicted that Ritch would be victorious. Opinions are divided, but the overall consensus seems to be that it will either be Matamoros by submission, or the Cannon by knockout. All agreed that it would be a great fight.

"People can say what they want on the forums," Moon says, "but the outcome will be determined in the ring by these two great fighters. I can't believe that this fight just fell into our laps. Its going to be awesome!"

Matamoros and Ritch will be featured in one of four title bouts at the Ironheart Crown. The show will be held on Saturday, November 10 at the Hammond Civic Center in Hammond, Indiana. The doors open at 6:00 PM, and fights will begin at 7:00. Tickets are on sale now, and a limited number of ringside seats are available. For more information, call 773-793-6555 in Chicago or 219-844-8504 in northwest Indiana. Information is also available on the event website at www.ironheartcrown.com

Wednesday - October 31, 2001

UFC 34 Press Conference:The Return of Stand-ups
by Jim Genia

The MGM Grand, in Las Vegas, played host to the Ultimate Fighting
Championship 34 press conference today. And while there was the usual mix of respect and trash talking, the big news was the return of referee stand-ups -- a tool thought to have been discarded with the advent of rounds.
In hopes of making the UFC more fan-friendly and exciting, Zuffa reinstated the referee's power to stand the fighters up whenever there's a significant lull in the action. From behind the podium, head referee Big John McCarthy cited the stalemates which plagued the card at UFC 33, and described the stand-ups as a power to be used at the referees' discretion. "If the fighters are put in a stalemate position, and they're both unable to bring the fight to an end or better their position, then we're going to give them a warning," he said. He went on to say that they would be brought back their feet and restarted if the warning went unheeded. "That's just to bring the entertainment value up for the fans and keep the fights more exciting." The reintroduction of the rule was met with applause.
All of the fighters were in attendance and looked to be healthy and in great shape. After Dana White introduced those competing on the undercard, the champions and challengers took center stage."First, I want to thank Zuffa and all the staff," said welterweight challenger Matt Hughes. "I came to Vegas for one reason: to bring my title back home. It belongs to the Miletich camp, and that's what I think is going to happen." Looking intense and focused, Matt wished his opponent good luck.
Ever the spokesman, welterweight champ Carlos Newton issued a personal challenge to all the fighters. "Guys, let's see who can make the most exciting fight of the night, because that is our future." Turning to his opponent, Carlos unleashed more of the brashness we saw after he'd won the belt from long-time welterweight champ Pat Miletich -- Matt's friend and trainer. "Matt, I hope you're a good dance partner. Don't let me have to lead all night, or else." Facing the audience, Carlos continued. "This is the third time fighting a guy from the same camp, so I know they're looking to get it right this time." With an almost-cocky smile, he added: "But what can I say? I'm the champ, and I'm gonna stay the champ."
A stark contrast to the bad blood in the welterweight title bout, the two men facing off in the heavyweight title bout showed nothing but respect for each other. At the podium, challenger Pedro Rizzo thanked Zuffa and champ Randy Couture for giving him the rematch. "It should be a great fight for all the fans. This time is going to be harder than the last time. I think it's going to be a great show and everybody's going to love it."
Displaying an equal amount of class, Randy thanked the MGM Grand and Zuffa, then admitted that his previous fight with Rizzo was "the toughest fight I'd ever been in. Pedro is a great striker, and he showed wrestling abilities I didn't know he possessed." He went on to say he's trained with one-time opponent Maurice Smith to learn how to deal with Pedro's striking. "I'm looking forward to this chance to show what I've learned." Randy concluded by thanking the fans.
The MGM Grand Arena seats around 7,000, and while tickets are still
available, Zuffa was optimistic. However, whether it's a sell-out or not, the return of the stand-up rule certainly promises an event more exciting than the last.